Matte Etching Soda-Lime Glass: Soda-Lime Glass (CTE 9.0 x 10^-6 /K, 360 nm – 2.0 um); gloss 60 – 110 GU, haze 2 – 25%. Single-piece prototypes to production volumes, quoted from your drawing.
Specify matte etching soda-lime glass when the bare substrate falls short: acid-etched anti-glare texture, processed by controlled HF immersion, brings Soda-Lime Glass to gloss 60 – 110 GU, haze 2 – 25%.
The numbers
| Material | Soda-Lime Glass (Float per ASTM C1036, low-iron option) |
|---|---|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 9.0 x 10^-6 /K |
| Service temperature | 350 C continuous |
| Transmission range | 360 nm – 2.0 um |
| Density | 2.50 g/cm3 |
| Knoop hardness | 585 kg/mm2 |
| Refractive index | 1.52 @ 587 nm |
| Stock thickness | 0.40 – 19 mm |
| Maximum blank size | 1,000 x 800 mm |
| Treatment | Matte Etching – acid-etched anti-glare texture |
| Specification | gloss 60 – 110 GU, haze 2 – 25% |
| Deposition / method | controlled HF immersion |
| RFQ inputs | PDF/DXF/STEP drawing, quantity brackets, surface and edge spec |
Getting the drawing right
The shop-floor rules that matter here:
- Material note: higher CTE means edge chips propagate under thermal load, so edge finishing quality drives reliability.
- Sequence matters: all machining happens before matte etching; post-coating rework is not economical.
- Over-specification is the quiet budget killer: a 20/10 scratch-dig face costs roughly three times an 80/50 face, so grade each surface individually.
For the complete framework, see the tolerance design guide and the holes and edges design guide.
Process window
Beyond this page, Soda-Lime Glass routinely runs through dicing, drilling, grinding, polishing in our shop – most real parts combine two or three of these steps.
Application context
The recurring buyers of matte etching soda-lime glass: led packaging (groove covers, phosphor carriers, package windows); industrial displays (touch covers, gauge windows, printed bezels). Background reading on the underlying material science: ASTM C1036 flat glass standard.
The fastest route to a quote is geometry: use the 3D builder below, draw a dimensioned 2D drawing from it, or open the site-wide custom glass machining 3D + 2D builder for fully custom parts.
Engineers scoping this work usually also review glass sandblasting, holes and edges design guide, ultra-thin glass materials.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum order for matte etching soda-lime glass?
No. Single prototypes are accepted, and pricing steps down at 10, 100 and 1,000 pieces.
How fast can prototypes ship?
Machined prototypes ship in 5 – 10 working days. Coated or bonded parts add 1 – 2 weeks depending on queue slots.
What files do you need for a quote?
A dimensioned PDF plus DXF or STEP geometry. If only a sketch exists, our drawing review service formalizes it before quoting.
Do parts ship with inspection data?
Dimensional reports, surface certificates and material certs per melt are available; specify the level on the RFQ.
What tolerances are achievable on Soda-Lime Glass parts?
Ground features hold +/-0.01 mm and lapped thickness reaches +/-0.003 mm. Higher CTE means edge chips propagate under thermal load, so edge finishing quality drives reliability.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in September 2026.